Creative Drama Classes Birkenhead - 7 to 16 years

Enrolments open until midday Wed 18 May

Cost: $105 for a nine-week term

Due to the tutor being immune-compromised all pupils must provide proof of vaccination (usual childhood vaccinations, plus COVID) and wear masks.

You MUST complete an application form to attend the classes
Contact: info@thespianage.co.nz

Creative Drama Classes have been running in the purpose-built theatre, TheatreWorks, Recreation Drive, Birkenhead since 1997.

The final class of each term is a short presentation of what we have been working on during the term
i.e. Drama 1 - Tuesday 28 June
Drama 2 - Wednesday 29 June

In Term 2, we’re looking at Shakespeare, particularly his history “(The Life of) Henry V”. I feel it is important to foster an appreciation of William Shakespeare and his works early, as it can be taught in an inaccessible manner at school, but it is full of wonderful stories, engaging characters and often addresses the “human condition”.

The classes are comprehensive covering a range of topics, with different emphases applied according to class level attended. Some of the topics covered are teamwork, imagination stimulus, improvisation, mime, and movement. There is also stage-craft, performance skills, voice production, characterisation and character background, study of scripts, theatre terminology, a brief overview of theatre history and “who’s who” in the production process. The classes are both constructive and enjoyable. There will be room for play, but there is the need also for work to gain any benefit. “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch!”

The teacher, Robyn Donnelly, has been a member of TheatreWorks (formerly Mairangi Players) since 1993 and has been teaching drama since 1997; for TheatreWorks, ACTA - a musical theatre academy, The NZ Improv Society and Bayview Drama.

Awarded a musical theatre scholarship, she went on to graduate with an “A” pass in the post-graduate Diploma in Drama from The University of Auckland.

In 2015, Robyn received the "Best Female Actor in a Leading Role" Award for Auckland Community Theatre. She has trained with various tutors in dance, drama, improvisation, piano, singing, speech, and theory of music. Her first performance was at the age of three and she has since performed in both amateur and professional stage work, film, television and vocal recording, as well as writing, directing, producing, choreography, costume design and creation, stage- managing sound and lighting design and operation and doing other behind-the-scenes jobs. She was a long-time member of “The Aunties”, a children’s entertainment troupe, and started Thespianage in 2004.